Kenosha closes the curtain on historic theater

Kenosha is tearing down one of its historic movie houses over the objections of the building’s owners.

Kathryn Hanneman and John Gee, owners of the Roosevelt Theatre since 2000, pleaded with city officials to spare the building. They want to turn the movie house into a studio for shooting commercials and television pilots. But after eight years, they’ve made no progress.

Worse, say city officials, the owners let the building deteriorate to a condition beyond repair.